Flexible shoe



May 25 19.26.

l c..|. KRAUTHOEFER FLEXIBLE SHOE l Filed March :5, 1921 @WMM ATTPNLYS,

PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER J'. KRAUTHOEFER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

FLEXIBLE SHOE.

Application led March 3, 1921. Serial No. 449,432.l

This invention relates to improvements in flexible shoes. Y

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a shoe while adapted for general use is more particularly adapted for athletic uses in which great flexibility is a very desirable feature. Shoes for this particular purpose must be very flexible and of strong and durable construction to withstand the hard usage to which they are subjected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible shoe of the athletic type in which the sole is sewed directly to the upper in an inside out position and the parts are then turned rightside out to complete the shoe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible shoe in which the use of a separate welt is eliminated and the inner sole is sewed directly to the shoe upper when the'parts are in an inside out position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible shoe in which the yuse of a last is eliminated during the sewing operation and while-the shoe is in an inside out or turned position, said sewing operation serving as the equivalent to the ordinary lasting operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible shoe construction in which the connection between the sole and the upper is formed in a manner to eliminate shoulders or offset portions within the shoe so that the use f sock linings may be dispensed with if desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible shoe which is very flexible, is strong and durable, is inexpensive to manufacture and is well adapted for the purpose desired.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved flexible shoe and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference characters indicateA the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved flexi-` ble shoe,- portions being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view there- .l of taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3 is a view of the blank portions which form the shoe.

Referring to the drawing the numeral 5 indicates the improved shoe which comprises the outer sole 6, the inner sole 7, the heel portion 8, the vamp 9, the quarters 10, the back stay strip 11, the counter 12 and the tongue 13. The vamp 9 is very short and the quarters 10 have their lower portions 10 extending close to the toe of the shoe and are sewed to opposite sides of the vamp 9 by lines of stitches 14 to form an upper with a large opening. The quarters 1() are provided with eyelets 15 and at their rear end portions are sewed to the b'ack stay strip 11 and the counter 12. The tongue 18 is sewed to and forms an extension of vamp 9 in the usual manner. When the upper is completed it is turned inside out and its lower edge portion 16 is turned inwardly and placed on the recessed or rabbeted edge portion 17 of the inner sole which is likewise positioned inside out and the parts without the use of a last are then sewed together by lines of stitching 18. The sewing operation serving as the equivalent for the ordina lasting operation. The recess 17 of the inner sole 7 forms a shoulder 17 and extends all around the sole adjacent the edge and is of a depth to approximately correspond to the thickness of the inturned lower edge of the upper so that when the parts are sewed together the surfaces of the inturned edge portion of the upper will be approximately flush with the inner surface of the innerIl sole when turned. The shoe is now turned rightside out to its proper position and the outer sole 6 is then placed against the outer surface of the inner sole with the heel portion'8 interposed therebetween and the three parts are then sewed together by a line of stitching 19 to form the completed shoe.

Sewing the upper to the sole serves the double purpose of the equivalent to lasting and fastening the upper to an insole.

While the drawing shows and the specification describes an athletic form of shoe it is to be understood that any form of upper may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The short toe and long quarter construction permits the shoe to be easily turnedv during the course of manufacture and the shoe thus constructed is very flexible and desirable for the purpose desired and-is inexpensive to manufacture. If a shoe of extreme flexibility is required the outer sole may be omitted.

What .I claim as my invention is:

1. A turned shoe construction, comprising an inner sole member extending the length of the shoe and having a recessed portion forming a vertical shoulder adjacent its upper side edge that extends entirely around the periphery of the sole and heel portion of the shoe but terminates short of the edge of the sole and heel portion, an upper member including a heel portion havin@ inturned lower edge portions which extend into the recess with the edges of the inturned portions abutting the shoulder and the upper surface of the inturned portion lying substantially flush with the upper surface of the sole member throughout the entire length of the recess, a line of stitching extending through the inner sole and the inturned lower edge portions of the upper, and outer sole positioned against the outer side of the inner sole, and means securing the two soles together.

2. A turned shoe construction, comprising an inner sole member extending'the length of the shoe and having a recessed portion forming a vertical shoulder adjacent its upper side edge that extends entirely around the periphery of the sole and heel portion of the shoe, but terminates short of the edge of the sole and heel portion, an upper member formed of elongated quarters and a short vamp member and a counter and a back stay strip, said upper parts being sewed together to form an upper with a large opening, the lower edge portion of the upper member eX- tending inwardly and entering the recess with the edge of the inturned portion abutting the shoulder and the upper surface of the inturned portion lying substantially :Lawaai iiush with the upperr surface of the sole member throughout the entire length. of the recess, an inner line of stitching extending through the recessed portion of Athe inner sole and heel portion and through the inturned lower edge of the upper, and outer sole positioned against the outer face of the innersole, a heel member interposed between portions of the two soles, and an outer line of stitching extending through both soles and the heel member for securing the parts together.

3. A turned shoe construction, comprising an inner sole having a recess extending entirely around the upper side edge of the sole and heel vportion to form an inner vertical shoulder, the surface of the sole forming the bottom portion of the recess inclining upwardly and outwardly and terminating short of the outer upper edge of the sole to leave the outer edge portion of the sole of substantially the same thickness as the inner portion of said sole, an upper member having an inturned lower edge which extends into the recess with the edge of the inturned portion abutting the shoulder and the upper surface of the inturned portion lying substantially flush with the upper surface ot the sole member throughout the 4entire length of the recess, and a line of stitching extending through the recessed portion and the inturned lower edge portion for securing the parts together.

In testimony whereof, l affix my signature.

CHESTER J. KRAUTHOEFER. 

